Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 19, 1994 TAG: 9406290013
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: EXTRA3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Karen Davis
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
That's an age-old adage familiar to horsemen the world over.
Consider that each equine foot weighs roughly one pound, and that just four feet support an 800- to 1,000-pound horse as he carries a rider and gear over fences, around a racetrack or down rugged trails and you understand why something as simple as a corn can put a useful horse out to pasture for awhile.
Routine hoof care includes removing stones and dirt from the feet daily with a hoof pick, applying hoof dressing to prevent brittleness, and having the feet trimmed and shod every four to eight weeks.
Horses' hooves are similar to hair and fingernails in that they grow continuously from the coronary band, where the hoof meets the hairline, just as our fingernails grow from the base. Like fingernails, hooves have to be trimmed regularly and kept moist enough so that they don't crack and split.
How a horse is shod depends on how he is used and on what type of ground he is worked. An unshod horse ridden over rough, hard ground will quickly wear away the hard, insensitive horn of his hooves, exposing the more sensitive areas and causing soreness.
Some horses do quite well when shod only on the front, where more weight is carried, and ridden only on soft surfaces. A horse that is rarely ridden may be allowed to go barefoot, but his feet still need to be trimmed regularly.
``Some horses get too sore to go barefoot, and some horses just have weak feet'' and need the protection of metal shoes, said farrier Carol Kelley of Troutville.
There are two basic types of shoeing - hot and cold - and many kinds of horsehoes to fit different needs. In hot shoeing, the farrier heats a metal shoe in a forge, then places it against the bottom of the foot, causing no pain to the horse. The mark left by the hot metal helps the farrier locate unevenness of fit. In cold shoeing, a farrier judges this simply by placing a cold shoe against the foot.
Horses tend to throw their shoes more often when the weather rapidly alternates from wet to dry extremes, Kelley said. Alternating wet-dry conditions make the hoof wall swell with moisture, then shrink as it dries out. This constant expanding and contracting loosens the nails ever so slightly.
Although opinions vary widely regarding their use and effectiveness, hoof dressings are intended to preserve the correct moisture balance within the hoof, keep the foot pliable, and help lessen drying and cracking. Kelley said she prefers the newer lanolin-based products over the conventional petroleum-based dressings, because the oily ones tend to seal out natural moisture.
For healthy hoof growth, proper nutrition is the most important consideration, said Dr. Randy Darnton of the Roanoke Valley Equine Clinic.
``The quality of the hoof is different for every individual and is partly genetic,'' he said. ``But sudden changes in the hooves, such as cracking, dryness or a shelly appearance often indicate a dietary deficiency,'' he said.
Such changes may be noticed more often in dry seasons after the grass has passed its peak quality. Feed supplements formulated for hoof growth and sold in tack and feed stores can help add the necessary nutrients back into the horse's diet.
For the young horse, careful attention to the feet is important long before he ever gets his first set of shoes at age 2 or so. For example, if a veterinarian spots a potential growth problem in the legs or feet, regular corrective trimming at an early age may eliminate or reduce the severity of the problem by the time the horse reaches maturity.
A horse's gaits, or the way he moves, often can be enhanced with special shoeing techniques. By altering the angle of the hoof, for example, the path of the flight of the foot can be changed to a certain extent to correct or improve some gait defects.
The desired fit and hoof angle gradually change as the foot grows, making it necessary to have a farrier pull off the shoes, trim the feet back and reset or replace the shoes in about a month's time.
Just as joggers risk shin splints and other injuries when they run without suitable and properly fitted footgear, riders risk costly foot, leg and joint problems in their mounts when they neglect routine shoeing and hoof care. Horseshoeing is a complex subject and requires the knowledge of a skilled craftsman. So think of investing in the regular services of a qualified farrier as a kind of insurance policy protecting your horse's soundness and well-being.
Karen L. Davis is a Roanoke free-lance writer and pet owner. Her column runs twice a month. Send general-interest questions to The Pet Podium, in care of of the Features Department, Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491.
by CNB